Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1887-09-09

maze cue encte rustic od ostler predict a
change of weather He was right Before
had driven two miles light snow began to
fall, and by tho time | reached a wretched
little wayside inn, about "A mile from the
Mere, film of white covered the whole
country l stabbed my horse as well as ]
could, then, taking my skates with me,
walked down to the pold.
Now, whether had mistaken the day, or
whether tho threatening fall of snow had
made certain people change their minds, |
don't know; but, TO my annoyance and vex-
alton, no skaters were 10 be seen, and, more
over, the uncut, white surface told mo that
none had been on the pond thai morning.
Still. hoping they might CONS in spita nf ria.
weather put Sl my shaue, anu went OUT
side-elging and grape-vining all over the
place But as there was no person in par
ticular-in fact no one at ALTO note my.
powers, | soon got tired. 1t was, indeed,
dreary dreary work. But / waited and
hoped until the snow came down so fast and
furiously that felt sure that waiting was
In vain, and that bad driven to Luymere
for nothing.
Back went 20 the little inn, utterly dis
Eusted with tuings in general, and feeling
that TO break soms ones heal would BE-
relief TO me in my present state o. mind. or
course, a sensible man would at once havo
got his horse between the shafts and driven
home But, whatever ! may bo now, in
those days | was not sensible man-Brand
will, | know, cordially indorse this remark
the accommodations OF the inn was not such
as 10 induce one TO linger within its pre-
cincts; but the fire was right good one, and
drink, which | gkillfully manufactured out
Of some hot beer, not TO be desuised, and
proved warming 10 the body and soothing 10
the ruiied temper. So l fingered over the
big fire until | began TO feel hungry, and
upon tho landady assuring me that she
coulc cook a raSher, decided it would be
wiser 10 stay where l was until the vio-
lence Of the snow-storm was over; for COM
ing down it was now, and no mistakel
And IL kept on coming down. About
half past three, when l sorrowfully decided
l was bound 10 make n move, 1t was snow
ing faster than ever. ] harneSsel my horse,
and laughing at the old woman's dismal
prophecy that l should never get to Mid
combe IN such weather. gathered up the
reins aud away | went along the white road.
thought | knew the way well enough. In
fact, | had always prided myself upon re-
membering any road once driven over by
me; but does any one who has not tried 1t
really know how heavy fall of snow
changes the aspect of the country, and
learned all about il then, once ami for all |
found, also, that the snow lay much deeper
than | thought could possibly be in 50 short
a time, and it still fell in a manner almost
binding Yet l went on bravely and merrily
for some miles. Then came bit OF uncor-
tainty-
Which of those two roads was the right
onei THIS one, Of course-no, the other.
There vas no house near; no ono was likely
10 bo passing in such weather, 50 | was left
TO exercise my free unbiased choice, n
privilege | would willingly have dispensed
with However, | made the best selection |
could, and followed it FOR some two miles.
Then / began TO grow doubte' aud soon
persuading myself that l was on tho wrong
track. retraced my steps | was by this time
something like huge white plaster-of- Paris
figure, and the SNOW which had accumulated
on the old dog-cart made ii run heavier by
half a ton more or less. BY the time ! came
TO that unlucky junction Of roads at which
my misfortunes began. 1t was almost dark;
the sky as black as a tarpauin, yet sending
down the white feathery fakes thicker and
faster than ever. / felt inclined 70 curse my
folly in attempting such a drive, at any rate
/ blamed myself for no. having started two
or three hours earlier. I'll warrant that
steady going old Brand never had TO accuse
himself Of such foolishnoss as mine.
Well / took the other road, went on some
way; came 10 a turning which / seemed TO
remember, and. not without misgivings,
followed it. Ny msgivings increased when,
after n little while, | found tho road grew
full of ruts, which the snow and darkness
quite concealed from me until the wheels
got INTO them. Evid IDENTIFY l was wrong
again l was Just thinking OF making the
best of my way out Of this rough and I'M
frequented road, when-there don't know
how il happened, such things seldom occur
to me-a stumble, o fall on the part of my
tired horse sent me flying over the dash
! board with the only consolng thought
that the reins were still in my hand.
Luckily the snow had made the falling
prvtty -OIt. SION pICKcu myseH up
set about estimating damages. With some
difficulty got the horse out of tho harness.
and then felt free to inspect the dOg-cart
Alasl after the manner Of the twowhnel
kind, whenever n horse thinks fit 10 fall
one shaft had snapped of like a carrot; 50
here was !. five miles apparently from any
where in the thick of binding snowstorm,
left standing helpless beside a jadcd horse
and a broken cart should like to know
what Brand would have done under the cir
cumstanceS
As for me, reflected for some minutes
reflection in a snowstorm is weary work.
reasoned, l believe, logically, and at last
came TO this decision: | would follow tho
road IL, as suspected, it was but a cart
track il would probably soon lead TO a hab-
itation OF some kind. Amy way, | had bet
ter try bit farther. ] took hold Of the
wearied horse, and with snow under my
feet. snowflakes whirling round me, and